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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 4080-04-2012A Resolution NO. 4080 -04 -2012 AUTHORIZING CLOSURE OF Z. BOAZ GOLF COURSE AND RE- PURPOSING OF THE PROPERTY AS A COMMUNITY PARK WHEREAS, on July 13, 1928, Z. Boaz, Teck Boaz, and N. A. Dodge conveyed two tracts of land to the City of Fort Worth; and WHEREAS, the deed provides that Tract No. 2, consisting of approximately one hundred and forty acres and being part of the H. Covington and E. Wilburn Surveys, was conveyed for development and use as a municipal golf course for a period of at least ten (10) years and thereafter for such course or park purposes as the City may determine; and WHEREAS, Z. Boaz golf course has continually operated as a municipal golf course for more than eighty years; and WHEREAS, in 2010 the National Golf Foundation reported that the United States golf market was overbuilt as a result of 3,000 courses having been constructed between 1990 to 2010 and predicted a market correction in the form of 500 to 1,000 course closures by 2015; and WHEREAS, the local golf market has exhibited this same oversaturation, with the number of public golf courses in the Fort Worth area having increased from 15 in 1979 to 42 in 2009, an increase of 180 %, and with the number of courses within a fifteen -mile radius of Z. Boaz golf course having grown from 8 in 1979 to 19 in 2009, an increase of 137 %; and WHEREAS, the overbuilt market conditions have contributed to decreases in the number of golf rounds at the City's system overall — from 262,000 rounds in 2000 to 152,000 rounds in 2010, a decrease of 42% — and at Z. Boaz golf course in particular — from 46,873 in 2000 to 21,844 in 2010, a decrease of 53 %; and WHEREAS, in 2011, a fifteen - member Citizens Review Committee for the Library and Parks and Community Services Departments was created and charged with evaluating the efficiency of various aspects of the Library and Parks Departments and was specifically instructed to review the City's Golf Program and make recommendations on ways it could be re- structured to increase profitability and address overbuilt market conditions; and WHEREAS, on May 12, 2011, the Committee issued its recommendations, which included urging the City to reevaluate the operation of its Golf Program and to consider re- purposing one or more of its unprofitable golf courses; and ''' ?1 Resolution No. 4080 -04 -2012 WHEREAS, in connection with its FY2012 Business Plan, the Parks and Community Services Department began a systematic review of the Committee's recommendations, including completion of an analysis of possible operating alternatives for the Golf Program, with a general goal of improving the program's overall long -term sustainability while specifically taking into account issues of equity, geographic distribution, affordability, and access as well as the needs of the overall park system; and WHEREAS, the area surrounding Z. Boaz golf course does not meet the City's current goals for allocating community parks throughout the City as established by the City's Park, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan and is anticipated to experience a population increase of more than 60,000 people by the year 2040 based on projections included in the City's Comprehensive Plan; and WHEREAS, Tract No. 2 of the Z. Boaz property exhibits a number of characteristics conducive to the development of a community park, as it is a large tract of land in a park -like setting with diverse topography, ponds, trees, wildlife, and vegetation; easy access from major thoroughfares; existing amenities including R. D. Evans Community Center, a commercial recreation facility, and a park operations service center; and existing infrastructure and support facilities such as parking lots, utility lines, and concrete paths; and WHEREAS, the Z. Boaz property is deed restricted and must continue to be used as a public park; and WHEREAS, in light of its analysis of the Golf Program and the needs of the overall park system, staff recommended closure of Z. Boaz golf course and re- purposing of the property as a community park; and WHEREAS, staff's recommendation was presented to the Golf Advisory Committee, which adopted an alternate recommendation calling for the re- assignment of Z. Boaz golf course from the Golf Enterprise Fund to the General Fund; and WHEREAS, the recommendation from staff and the recommendation from the Golf Advisory Committee were both presented to the Parks and Community Services Advisory Board, which endorsed staff's recommendation for the re- purposing of Z. Boaz golf course; and WHEREAS, on March 6, 2012, staff made a presentation to the Fort Worth City Council regarding "Re- Purposing of Z. Boaz Golf Course for Use as a Community Park" and presented the recommendations from staff, the Golf Advisory Committee, and the Parks and Community Services Advisory Board; and WHEREAS, the City Council directed staff to prepare a resolution for Council consideration for the re- purposing of Z. Boaz golf course as a community park; and WHEREAS, it is vital to ensure that financial resources are properly managed to meet the present and future needs of the citizens of Fort Worth and to ensure that long- &C WORT No. 4080 -04 -2012 term financial management strategies and policy decisions consider the future sustainability of facilities and programs managed and operated by the City of Fort Worth; and WHEREAS, it is imperative to ensure fiscal stability and the effective and efficient delivery of services through the identification of necessary services, establishment of appropriate service levels, and careful administration of the expenditure of available resources while taking into consideration the availability of similar programs, facilities, and services in the market region; and WHEREAS, the sustainability of the Municipal Golf Program is contingent on adjustments in the regional golf market wherein the supply of facilities is reduced to more effectively align with the demands of the golfing public; and WHEREAS, re- purposing of the facility currently known as Z. Boaz golf course is anticipated to improve the long -term viability of the Golf Program and to help the City to meet its goals of providing adequate community park facilities to meet the needs of all of its citizens. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS: 1. That the City Manager is hereby authorized to develop and implement a plan for the closure of Z. Boaz golf course no later than September 30, 2012; and 2. That the City Manager is further authorized to re- purpose the Z. Boaz park property, hereafter to be known as North Z. Boaz Community Park, into a traditional community park for the use and enjoyment of the general public for park purposes in accordance with the terms of the deed conveying Tract No. 2 of the Z. Boaz property to the City of Fort Worth; and Adopted this 3rd day of April 2012. AT'I In Mar ORT WORT It 11 McElroy, Denis C. From: Alanis, Susan Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 12:48 PM To: McElroy, Denis C. Subject: Re: Z Boaz resolution I am fine with your suggestion to include in minutes instead of resolution. Please make sure you all are communicating with CSO. From: McElroy, Denis C. Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 12:18 PM To: Alanis, Susan; Zavala, Richard; Bunton, Nancy Cc: Wallach, Tyler; Thurber, Matt Subject: Z Boaz resolution PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY- CLIENT COMMUNICATION; DO NOT DISCLOSE Susan, I'm trying to work out the most appropriate way to capture Mr. Zimmerman's motion in the records and would like to get your input. I've re- watched the video of Tuesday's meeting, and Mr. Zimmerman said he wanted to "amend the motion to so state that if such an event occurs (something turns around at Z Boaz], that we will bring this back to the Council for reconsideration and also that we direct the City Manager to begin the process of a master plan for the repurposing to support the budget discussions." Given the language Mr. Zimmerman used, I tend to think both items (the possible reconsideration and the master plan) should be noted as directions -to -staff in the minutes of the meeting. in my opinion making notations in the minutes more accurately reflects what was said than making amendments to the body of the resolution because Mr. Zimmerman's amendment did not explicitly call for changes to the resolution (as would have been the case if he had used words to the effect of "move to approve with the addition of number 3 to read .... "). Please let me your thoughts on this matter and whether this approach would be acceptable. Thanks, Denis Denis C. McElroy Assistant City Attorney (817) 392 -2758 This message and all attachments are confidential and are intended solely for the use by the individual or entity to which they are addressed. This communication may contain material protected by the attorney - client privilege. Any review, use, distribution, forwarding, printing or copying by persons other than the intended recipients is strictly prohibited. If you believe this email was sent to you in error, please notify the sender by replying to this transmission or by calling Denis McElroy at 817 - 392 -2758 and delete this message or any copy. Unless expressly stated in this email, nothing in the message should be construed as a digital or electronic signature.